Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program

Under a December 2004 amendment to the 1971 wild horse law, wild horses and burros over 10 years old – as well as younger ones that have been passed over for adoption at least three times – are eligible for sale, a transaction in which ownership passes immediately from the Federal government to the buyer. Since that amendment took effect, the BLM has sold more than 5,500 wild horses and burros. (Note: It has been and remains the policy of the BLM not to sell or send any wild horses or burros to slaughter.) Proceeds from the sale of eligible animals are used for the BLM's wild horse and burro adoption program, as directed by Congress under the sale-authority amendment.